Columnar apple tree sapling with disease - Ask Extension
Hi! I decided to try columnar apple trees this year in my beginner garden. I got two Scarlet Sentinel columnar apple saplings of which one developed h...
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Columnar apple tree sapling with disease #873245
Asked June 15, 2024, 3:26 PM EDT
Hi! I decided to try columnar apple trees this year in my beginner garden. I got two Scarlet Sentinel columnar apple saplings of which one developed healthy dark green leaves and the other remained a stick and I removed it. It was a bit late in the season (mid-May) but I found two White Icicle columnar apple saplings at a nursery. They looked a bit sad (like they still do in the photos from today) but the nursery staff gave me a reduced price and said that they might get back on track.
It's been a month and the Icicle saplings have developed a few more leaves and the Scarlet sapling quite a lot. However, something didn't seem right and I took a closer look at the leaves. They are still a bit folded and on the middle tree, one of the Icicle saplings, the leaves look dusty. I think some of this is also happening to the newest leaves of the other tree saplings.
I'm guessing this is a fungus of some sort? I'm wondering if this is treatable, or if I should just pull all the saplings up and start over? Any advice is helpful and thank you in advance!
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Anna and thanks for your question and picture of your columnar apple trees. My husband (the apple man in our family) agrees with me that the tree on the left in your picture with the forked top has several problems including what looks like a gash at the base in the stem. If they will trade this tree back in, I would remove it (or even if they won't take it back!) and wait until next fall to replant.
The other tree with the white dust is definitely stressed. This could be due to the lateness of planting, timing of planting (ie. did it get a lot or not enough water at root level), or just coming stressed from the nursery. I think it may have a chance, however if you want to give it a couple of sprays with potassium bicarbonate for powdery mildew and see if it recovers or sends out some new healthy leaves. You should be able to find this at a nursery or somewhere they sell plant supplies.
You would also be justified in starting over if you decide to try again. I might also try a different nursery...
This looks like an amazing apple so thank you for bringing it to my attention!
The other tree with the white dust is definitely stressed. This could be due to the lateness of planting, timing of planting (ie. did it get a lot or not enough water at root level), or just coming stressed from the nursery. I think it may have a chance, however if you want to give it a couple of sprays with potassium bicarbonate for powdery mildew and see if it recovers or sends out some new healthy leaves. You should be able to find this at a nursery or somewhere they sell plant supplies.
You would also be justified in starting over if you decide to try again. I might also try a different nursery...
This looks like an amazing apple so thank you for bringing it to my attention!
Hi Rhonda and thank you and your husband so much for taking time to give me advice on this!
I'll try some potassium bicarbonate spray for the powdery mildew for the dusty leaves and remove the left tree with the forked top. I can get a better one this fall. The photo quality wasn't the best since I put the photos in a PDF, and the gash at the bottom of the trunk is actually some red paint. I'm curious and just so I can avoid making poor choices for the next tree; what problems does a tree with a forked top have? And was there something else on this tree that would be good to avoid in my next one? Thank you again!
Hi Anna- Well, the problem with a forked top on a tree is that one of the tops will want to take over. This weakens the other top which may get diseases, break off or at least be stressed. Also, the crack between the forks is a great place for disease to get started as it tends to hold water and can actually let rot into the trunk. Find a new tree with a good strong central leader and you will be safer in the long run.
Good luck,
Good luck,
